Vehicle lift



P. JLLUNATI VEHICLE LIFT Oct. 25, 1932.

Filed Oct. 6, 192'? alrlllllfllllllllll j I" v u Zl fi 7422i?IIIIIIBEEEE Il l-I lll m 2.. 7 4 fl FEFQ 4 7 M 1 a Z 5 J Patented ct. 25, 1%2

ran! STATES essen PATENT orrma Application flied October 6, 1927. Serial Ho. 224,476.

This invention relates to vehicle lifts and is an improvement over the structures shown in my copending application Serial Nos. 36,019, filed June 9, 1925; 86,569, filed'Feb- 5 piggy 2, 1926, and 161,167, filed January 14, In my copending applications above referred to, l have shown and described vehicle lifts of the hydraulic type wherein a hollow m piston is vertically reciprocable in a cylinder 7 and communicates at its lower end therewith, the cylinder and piston containing a body of oil and the apparatus being provided with means for supplying compressed air to the interior of the piston above the level of the oil therein to force the oil downwardly into the cylinder to effect the elevation of the piston to permit work of various kinds to be done on the under side of the motor vehicle. The forms of the apparatus referred to are particularly adapted for use at garages and filling stations where air under pressure is available for operating the lifts. These devices have been found to 0perate satisfactorily, but it has been found that the supply of compressed air at some filling stations is insuflicient to satisfy the demands made upon it for inflating tires, operating the lifts, and for other purposes. The present apparatus. therefore, contemplates a motor vehicle lift of the hydraulic type which is operable without theme of compressed air.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide mechanical means for effecting the transfer of oil or other fluid from the interior of the piston to the interior of the cylinder to effect the elevation of the ve hicle, thus obviating the necessity for utilizing air under pressure.

A further object is to provide novel pumping means and valve means associated therewith for transferring the oil from the piston to the cylinder to raise the vehicle and to permit the return of the oil from the cylinder to the piston to effect the lowering of the vehicle.

A further object is to provide a selfcontained apparatus wherein the cylinder and piston constitute a hollow structure in which 54} the pump and associated elements for ei'i'ecting movement of the oil are arranged.

A further object is to provide a hollow piston vertically reciprocable in a cylinder, and to provide a motor and pump, andassociated 55 conduits and valves mounted within the piston and adapted to effect and control movement of the oil to raise and lower the lift.

More specifically, the invention comprises a motor and pump mounted within the hollow m piston so that the apparatus will be wholly selfcontained. The intake side of the pump. communicates with the lower portion of the hollow piston to receive oil therefrom, while a conduit is connected between the outlet side of the pump and the interior of the cylinder through the bottom wall of the piston. The outlet conduit referred to is provided with a check valve which opens under the influence of the oil being pumped under pressure therethrough while the vehicle is being lifted, the check valve being adapted to close automatically when the operation of the pump stops whereby the lift will be held in any desired elevated position. A manually controlled valve is connected to the outlet conduit and is adapted to be controlled by the operator to permit the passage of oil therethrough whereby the oil previously pumped into the cylinder may return to the interior of the piston to permit the apparatus to be lowered, the manually controlled valve permittin the restricted passage of oil therethroug so that the lift may be slowly lowered.

The invention also has for its object the provision of means for filling the c linder and piston with oil and to determme the height of the column of oil within the cylinder and piston.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing, the figure is a central vertical sectional view through the apparatus,

' 11 which is preferably welded in place. The

cylinder may be supported in any suitable manner beneath the surrounding surface. Ordinarily, the cylinder is arranged in a recess dug in the ground for this purpose and concrete preferably is poured around the cylinder, as will be apparent. A nipple 12 communicates with the interior of the cylinder adjacent the upper end thereof, and the outer end of the nipple is connected to an elbow 13 which in turn receives the lower end of a vertical pipe 14. The upper end of this pipe projects at least to the surface beneath which the cylinder is arranged and is normally closed by a threaded plug 15.

A hearing sleeve 16 is arranged in the upper end of the cylinder and contacts therewith at its upper and lower ends. The lower portion of the sleeve is provided with oil passages 17 extending through a flange 18 which snugly fits within the cylinder. Intermediate its ends, the bearing sleeve is provided with an annular cut away portion 19, and it will be apparent that the passages 17 afford communication between the nipple 13 and the lower end of the cylinder. An annular flange 20 is preferably welded to the upper end of the cylinder and contacts with the lower face of a preferably integral annular flange 21 carried by the bearing sleeve. Bolts 22 pass through the flanges 20 and 21 and extend upwardly a substantial distance therebeyond. A nut 23 is threaded on each bolt 22 for securing the bearing sleeve in position as will be apparent.

A hollow piston 24 is vertically reciprocable and rotatable in the bearing sleeve 16 and is provided with a. lower head 25 which may be welded thereto. A gland 26 surrounds the upper portion of the piston and is provided with an outstanding annular flange 27 through which the upper portions of the bolts 22 extend, and a nut 28 may be arranged on the upper end of each boltto draw the gland downwardly and suitably compress packing 29. It will be obvious that this packing prevents the escape of fluid pressure upwardly between the piston and its bearing sleeve.

A support 30 is arranged on the upper end of the piston to be lifted thereby, and a suitable superstructure 31 may be connected. to the support 30 by bolts 32. The superstructure may be of any desired type and preferably includes a pair of parallel rails upon which a vehicle is adapted to be driven, suitable superstructures for this purpose being illustrated and described in my copending applications above referred to. A cap 33 is arranged over the upper end of the piston to exclude dirt and other foreign material therefrom.

The cylinder and piston are adapted to contain a body of a liquid such as oil, the liquid preferably extending to the level indicated by the dotted line 34. The piston is provided with an opening 34' through which oil is adapted to overflow if too great a quantity of oil is placed in the piston. Means are provided for effecting the movement of oil from the piston to the cylinder to create a differential pressure on opposite sides of the lower piston head 25 to effect the elevation of the piston and elements carried thereby, and to permit the return of the oil from the cylinder to the piston when it is desired to lower the latter. A motor 35 is suitably supported in the upper end of the piston preferably concentric therewith. The motor is provided with a depending armature shaft 36. A pump 37 is arranged beneath the motor and is secured thereto by braces or supports 38. The pump is provided with a drive shaft 39 which extends through bearings 40 formed in opposite ends of the pump. Suitable packing glands 41 are provided to prevent the leakage of oil along the shaft 39. The armature shaft 36 is directly connected to the shaft 39 by a keyed sleeve 42.

An elbow 43 is connected at one end to the intake side of the pump 37 and at its opposite end to a depending pipe or conduit 44, the lower end of which is arranged near the bottom of the piston 24 and is provided with a screen 45. A similar elbow 46 is connected at one end to the outlet side of the pump and at its opposite end to a short depending pipe or conduit 47. The lower end of this pipe is connected to an elbow 48 which in turn is connected to a check valve 49-through a nipple 50. This valve is adapted to open upon the creation of pressure by operation of the pump 37, and is adapted automatically to close as soon as the pump ceases to operate. The outlet side of the valve 49 is connected to one end of a T 51, the opposite end of which is connected to the upper end of a depending pipe or conduit 52. The lower end of the pipe 52 is threaded in an opening 53 formed in the lower piston head 25, and thereby communicates with the interior of'the cylinder 10. The transverse outlet of the T 51 is connected to a manually controllable valve 54 by a short nipple 55, the valve being provided with an operating stem 56. The stem of the valve is adapted to be operated by a vertically extending stem 57 which extends from the upper end of the piston and is provided with a transversely extending operating handle 58. Movement of the handle 58 in one direction closes the valve 54, while opposite movement of the handle 58 affords communication between the T 51 and pipe 52, and the interior of the piston 24.

1 The operation of the apparatus is as folows:

When the cylinder is to be sunk into the ground, it merely is necessary to excavate a suitable hole and arrange the cylinder in a vertical position therein, whereupon concrete may be poured around the cylinder and allowed to set. If desired, the apparatus may be shipped to the user with the piston and the oil control means in operative posi tion within the cylinder in which case it merely is necessary to connect the superstructure in position afterthe concrete has hardened. In order to operate the device, the plug 15 is removed from the upper end of the pipe 14 and oilis supplied thereto. The oil flows downwardly into the. cylinder through the annular space surrounding the cutout portion 19 of the bearing sleeve, and through the passages 17 The handle of the valve 54 is operated to open the latter, and it will be apparent that oil supplied to the cylinder in the manner referred to will flow upwardly through the pipe 52 and outwardly and downwardly into the interior of the piston through the T 5.1, nipple 55 and valve 54. The operator may continue to supply oil to the pipe 14 until the oil overflows, at which time a proper level of oil will have been reached. Thus it will be apparent that the pipe lat not only provides means for filling the cylinder and piston, but also serves to indicate when a proper oil level has been reached. After the cylinder and piston are filled with oil, the plug 15 is replaced and the apparatus is ready for operation. Current may be supplied to the motor 35 in any suitable manner and when the motor is energized the pump 37 will be driven. With a vehicle in position on the superstructure, the pump 37 draws oil upwardly from the interior of the piston through the pipe 44 and discharges it downwardly under pressure through the pipe 47. The oil opens the check valve 49 and flows downwardly therethrough to the pipe 52, from whence itwill be discharged into the bottom of the cylinder. During this operatioh it will be apparent that the valve 54 is closed and thus all the oil passing from the pump 40 will pass downwardly through the various elements just described. Thus it will be apparent that a difi'erential pressure will be established on opposite sides of the lower piston head 25 whereby the piston will be elevated, together with the oil pumping and control means, the superstructure and the vehicle arranged thereon. The piston and associated elements will continue torise as long as the pump 37 is operated, until the outstanding edges of the piston head 25 contact with the lower end of the bearing sleeve, whereupon further upward movement will be prevented. As soon as the motor is cut oil, the check valve 49 will automatically close, thus preventing oil from flowing upwardly through the pipe 52, and the vehicle will be maintained at thedesired elevation. Any desired work may be done on the under side of the vehicle, such as cleaning the chassis, spraying the springs, etc. When it is desired to lower the vehicle, the operator may turn the handle 58 and thus open the valve 54, whereupon oil will flow through the transverse outlet of the T 51; through the nipple 55 and valve 54, and thus back into the interior of the piston. Continued return flow of the oil in the manner described obviously will permit the weight of the vehicle, superstructure and other associated elements to lower the piston, and the rate of movementof the piston downwardly readily may be controlled by the degree of opening of the valve 54. As previously stated, the piston is rotatable in the cylinder as well as vertically reciprocable, and accordingly it will be apparent that the device is adapted to act as a turn table. Thus the device may be placed in the corners of garages or lots and a vehicle may be driven forwardly upon the superstructure, and the piston may be r0- tated through a half circle to permit the vehicle also to be driven forwardly from the device.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a vehicle lift of the hydraulic type which is adapted to be operated without drawing on the supply of compressed air sometimes present in only limited quantities at garages and filling stations. The appearance is entirely self-contained and the operating elements thereof are adapted to operate efficiently to transfer oil from the piston to the cylinder and thus elevate avehicle, or to permit the return passage of oil from the cylinder to the piston when it is desired to lower the vehicle. The cylinder and piston as a whole constitute a hollow structure in which the operating elements of the apparatus may be arranged, and the cylinder and piston constitute a pair of chambers between which the oil or other fluid is transferred to eflect the operation of the apparatus. The lift preferably employs oil as the hydraulic medium, and it will be apparent that this oil provides lubrication for the pump 37. Suflicient oil also will be fed along the motor shaft 36 by capillary attraction to provide proper lubrication therefor.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A hydraulic lift comprising a hollow structure including a pair of members each adapted to contain a liquid, vehicle supporting means arranged on one of said members, said last named member being vertically movable, and motor driven pump means arranged wholly within said structure and fixed to said movable member to move therewith, said pump means being adapted to transfer liquid under pressure from the movable member to the other member to effect elevation of the former, the motor of said pump means being arranged above the level of the liquid, the pump of said last mentioned means being arranged below the level of the liquid when said vertically movable member is in lower position.

2. A hydraulic lift comprising a pair of members each adapted to contain a. liquid, vehicle supporting means arranged on one of said members, said last named member being vertically slidable, and motor driven pump means carried by and arranged wholly within said slidable member and operable to transfer liquid therefrom under pressure to the other member to eflect elevation of said slidable member, the motor of said pump means being arranged above the level of the liquid, the pump of said last mentioned means being arranged below the level of the liquid when said vertically slidable member is in lower position.

3. A hydraulic lift comprising a hollow structure including an open topped cylinder and a piston vertically reciprocable in said cylinder and projecting from the upper end thereof, said piston being provided with a pressure head, vehicle supporting means carried by the upper end of said piston, mechanical means arranged wholly within said structure and adapted to establish a pressure differential on opposite sides of said pressure head to lift said piston, and means operable independently of said mechanical means for gradually reestablishing a pressure balance on opposite sides of said pressure head to permit said piston to be lowered, said mechanical means including a power source arranged above the level of the liquid and a pump arranged below the level of the liquid when said piston is in lower position.

4. A hydraulic lift comprising a hollow structure including an open topped cylinder and a piston vertically reciprocable in said cylinder and projecting from the upper end thereof, said structure being adapted to contain a liquid, said piston being provided with a pressure head, vehicle supporting means carried by the upper end of said piston, mechanical means arranged wholly within said structure and operable to effect C5 movement of the liquidto establish a pressure differential on opposite sides of said pressure head to lift said piston, and means operable independently of said mechanical means for gradually reestablishing a pressure balance on opposite sides of said pressure head to permit said piston to be lowered, said mechanical means including a power source arranged above the level of the liquid and a pump arranged below the level of the liquid when said piston is in lower position.

5. A hydraulic lift comprising a cylinder having an open top, a hollow piston mounted to reciprocate in said cylinder and projecting from the open top thereof, said piston having a lower head, vehicle supporting means carried by the upper end of said piston, a motor arranged in the upper end of said piston, a pump arranged beneath said motor and directly connected thereto, an outlet pipeconnected at one end to the outlet side of said pump and projecting through said piston head at its opposite end to communicate with the interior of said cylinder, an intake pipe communicating at one end with the intake side of said pump and at its opposite end with the interior of said piston near the bottom thereof, said piston and said cylinder being adapted to contain a liquid, said pump being operable to transfer liquid from said piston to said cylinder through said out let pipe to elevate said piston, and a check valve arranged in said outlet pipe and adapted to prevent reverse flow of liquid therethrough, said motor being arranged above the level of the liquid, said pump being arranged below the level of the liquid when said piston is in lower position.

6. A hydraulic lift comprising a cylinder having an open top, a hollow piston mounted to reciprocate in said cylinder and projecting from the open top thereof, said piston having a lower head, vehicle supporting means carried by the upper end of said piston, a motor arranged in the upper end of said piston, a pump arranged beneath said motor and directly connected thereto, an out- I let pipe connected at one end to the outlet side of said pump and projecting through said piston head at its opposite end to communicate with the interior of said cylinder, an intake pipe communicating at one end with the intake side of said pump and at its oppositeend with the interior of said piston near the bottom thereof, said piston and said cylinder being adapted to contain a liquid, said pump being operable to transfer liquid from said piston to said cylinder through said outlet pipe to elevate said piston, a check valve arranged in said outlet pipe and adapted to prevent reverse flow of liquid therethrough, and a manually controllable valve communicating at one end with the interior of said piston and at the opposite end with said outlet pipe between the outlet end thereof and said check valve, said motor being arranged above the All reac es level of the liquid, said pump being arranged below the level of the liquid when said piston piston is in lower position, driving means for the pump arranged above the level of the liquid, an intake for the pump in the piston, an outlet for the pump communicating with the cylinder, said pump being adapted continuously to transfer liquid to the cylinder durin its operation to move the piston.

8. g vehicle servicing lift comprising a cylinder having an open top and closed bottom and adapted to be mounted in a vertical fixed position, a hollow closed bottom plunger mounted for vertical reciprocation and axial rotation in the cylinder, an electric motor, a support suspendin the motor wholly withinthe upper end of t e plunger with its shaft lying axially of the plunger, a liquid pump mounted in the plunger and directly connected to the shaft of the motor to be actuated thereby, the inlet of said pump communicating with the interior of the plunger and the outlet thereof communicating with the space between the plunger and cylinder so that the ump can transfer liquid under pressure cm the plunger to the cylinder to elevate the plunger, manually controlled liquid release connections for permitting liquid to return from the cylinder to the plunger to lower the plunger, and a vehicle supporting superstructure carried by the plunger.

9. A vehicle servicing lift comprlsmg a cylinder adapted to be arranged in a fixed vertical position and having its upper end open and its lower end closed, a hollow plunger mounted for vertical reciprocation and axial rotation in the cylinder, the, bottom of the plunger being closed so that a fluid pressure chamber is formed between the cylinder-and I the plum er, an electric motor, a support carried by t e plunger and suspending the motor wholly within the plunger so as to be com pletely housed thereby, a fluid pressure pump mounted below the motor within the plunger and having its inlet in communication with the interior of the lunger and its outlet in communication with the ressure chamber between the cylinder and t e plunger whereby the pump can transfer a pressure fluid from the plunger to the presusre chamber to elevate the plunger, fluid connections between the interior of the plunger and said pressure chamber independent of the ump, a manual ly actuated valve in said flui connections for overnin the de ression of the plum er by g g F 5 controllin trans er of fluid from sai pressure-chem r to the interior of the plunger,

and a vehicle supporting superstructure carried by the plunger.

10. A vehicle servicing lift comprising a fixed vertical cylinder open at the top and closed at the bottom, a hollow closed bottomed plunger mounted for vertical reciprocation in the cylinder and forming therewith a fluid pressure chamber below the plunger, an electric motor, a motor support for suspending the motor from and within the upper end of the plunger, a fluid pressure pump suspended from and operatively connected to the motor fluid connections between the pump inlet and the interior of the plunger and between'the pump outlet and the pressure chamber below the plunger whereb operation of the pump transfers pressure uid from the interior of the plunger to the pressure chamber therebelow and elevates the plun er, a check valve in said fluid connections or preventing the flow of fluid through the pum in a reverse direction, manaully controlle lease connectlons for permitting return flow pressure reof fluid from said pressure chamber to the interior of the plunger independently of the pump to lower the plunger, and a vehlcle supporting superstructure mounted on the plunger 11. A vehicle servicing lift comprising a fixed vertical cylinder open at the top and closed at the bottom, a hollow closed bottomed plunger mounted for vertical reciprocation and axial rotation in the cylinder and forming therewith a fluid pressure chamber beneath the plunger, an electric motor, a support for carrying the motor wholly within and suspended from the upper end of the plunger, a fluid pressure pump mounted in the plunger below and operatively connected to the motor, fluid connections between the pum inlet and the interior of the plunger and etween the pum sure chamber beneat theplunger whereby operation of the pump by the motor transfers fluid from the interior of the plunger to the pressure chamber therebeoutlet and the prescheck valve. for-preventing reverse flow of fluid through the pump, release connections for permitting reverse flow of fluid from the pressure chamber to the interior of the plunger'independently of the pump, and a vehicle supporting superstructure carried by the plunger.

12. A vehicle servicing lift having an open topped closed bottomed cylinder adapted for mountingin a fixed vertical position, a hol low closed bottomed plunger mounted for vertical reciprocation in the cylinder and forming therewith a fluid pressure chamber beneath the lunger, an electric motor, a sup port suspen ing the motor wholly within and from the plunger, a fluid pressure pump mounted in the plunger below the motor and operatively connected to the motor, fluid conneetions between the inlet of the pump and the interior of the plunger and between the outlet of the pump and the pressure chamber beneath the plunger, whereby operation of the pump transfers fluid from the interior of the plunger t0 the pressure chamber therebeneath and thereby elevates the plunger, a check valve for preventing return flow of fluid through the pump, and means for permitting 10 a return flow of fluid from the pressure chamher to the interior of the plunger to efi'ect the lowering of the plunger.

In testimony whereof I efix my signature.

PETER J, LDNATI, 

